History and mystery in England, Ireland and Scotland

England

A trip to see the sights of England wouldn’t be complete without a wave to the Queen, whether she’s there or not, at Buckingham Palace. But from London to World Heritage listed Stonehenge by express motor coach is a beautiful journey, and once you arrive you’ll be in awe of this ancient circle which dates back almost 5,000 years.
Just a few miles away, a stay at the luxurious and undeniably English Howard´s House Hotel puts you in one of the most beautiful villages in Wiltshire. Explore the quintessential English Garden with its ancient box hedges, beautiful rolling lawns and take you’re a la carte English food with a nice cup of tea.
For millions of Shakespeare enthusiasts worldwide, his house in Stratford-upon-Avon is a shrine. The Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel offers luxurious accommodation near by.

Ireland

Blarney Castle near Cork is a medieval stronghold and dates from before AD 1200. Alternatively, Dublin Castle was the former seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922, though most of it dates back to the 18th century. If burial tombs are more your thing, visit the Boyne Valley Visitor Centre for information on Newgrange and Knowth, both of which are over 5,000 years old. In fact, Newgrange itself is even older than England’s Stonehenge.
If you really want to step back in time in Ireland, take a trip to Molly Gallivan’s cottage in Bonane County Kerry, over 200 years old. Here you’ll experience a taste of rural Ireland from the days before electricity and cars. Widowed with seven children Molly sold the products of her farm, including homemade whiskey in her illegal pub, making her an infamous Irish entrepreneur.

Scotland

Its spectacular scenery featuring mountains and lochs have meant many movies have been filmed in Scotland. But perhaps the most famous is Braveheart. The Scottish scenes in Braveheart were filmed in and around Glencoe, Glen Nevis and the Mamore mountains. The Ballachulish Hotel is the perfect Glencoe base if you’re looking to explore the West Coast of Scotland. Rich in baronial splendour it’s the perfect place for a romantic break in Scotland.

If you want to explore the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe, take some time to visit Orkney’s Neolithic village. It was inhabited before the pyramids were even built in Egypt, from roughly 3180 BCE.

If Edinburgh is a bit too mainstream for you, Bothwell Castle in Glasgow is Scotland’s largest and grandest 13th century castle, featuring a prison tower displaying the grimness of life in medieval prison.